Technology :: First Disease Target

First Disease Target

More than 200 million individuals worldwide suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the United States alone, COPD affects as many as 30 million people, causes 120,000 deaths per year, and is now the 3rd leading cause of death. COPD is generally defined by a limitation of airflow in the lungs. This limited airflow may result from repetitive lung injury and inappropriate injury repair in lung. The airways of the lungs are normally covered by mucus that protects the airways from dehydration, pathogens, chemicals, inflammation, reactive oxygen species, and particulate irritants. However, in response to repetitive irritant exposure from cigarette smoke, for example, excessive secretion of mucus and inflammation occurs. Excessive secretion of mucus and inflammation are a common and distinguishing feature of COPD/chronic bronchitis, and studies conducted in the last several decades demonstrate the contribution of excessive mucus to the restriction of airflow in the lungs. However, there are no drugs that specifically inhibit excessive mucus secretion in the lungs; development of BIO-11006 Inhalation Solution will fill this therapeutic gap.